The Week’s Most Interesting Healthcare Reading (that you might have missed)

We’re going to start something new on Prognosis this week.  It strikes me that, each week, there is an avalanche of news about not only new policy developments in healthcare but also new innovations in both medical technology and health practices.  It’s impossible for any one person to keep up with it all.

So, each Friday in this space, we’ll spotlight some of the most interesting developments in U.S. healthcare from the week that either bear repeating or may not have captured the widespread attention they deserve.

Among this week’s most eye-catching articles:

•     A new pacemaker has been developed that will allow patients to have MRI scans

•      In Tennessee, physician, hospitals and insurers are working together to improve care and reduce costs.

•     Their work is largely unheralded, but a new study says healthcare group purchasing organizations are generating $36 billion in annual savings

•      A leading insurer, Aetna, is providing grants to a number of universities to better understand the causes of life-endangering obesity in minority populations.

•      Is there an app for that? The Institute of Medicine is challenging college students to use mobile smartphone applications and social networking to address health issues on campus.

•      And speaking of smartphones, the McKesson Corporation announced a plan to sponsor research into how mobile technology can be used to improve patient care for Americans with diabetes.

If you see a story about U.S. healthcare during the week that you feel deserves a broader audience, be sure to contact us and call it to our attention.